HOPE — A day after Dr. Jim Laurita was crushed to death by one of his two retired circus elephants, the directors of his nonprofit agency announced that Rosie and Opal will be returned to the Oklahoma facility where they lived before he brought them to Maine. “Jim is truly irreplaceable, leaving a monumental hole […]
Maine
Posted inMaine
Study says Maine 2nd best state for giving birth
Let’s call it gestational math: The lowest rate of moms dying in childbirth plus low-cost deliveries plus fewer premature births plus more pediatricians make Maine the second-best state in the country to have a baby, according to a study by social media company WalletHub. Only Vermont scored better. At the bottom of WalletHub’s 2014’s Best […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lost Valley launches fundraising effort
AUBURN — The owners of Lost Valley announced Wednesday that they have launched a fundraising drive in hopes of raising between $50,000 and $100,000 in an effort to open for the 2014-15 ski season. The resort, which opened in 1961, hit financial troubles after losing nearly $200,000 per season for several years. Its owners, Lincoln Hayes […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Nova Star ferry between Maine and Nova Scotia will end season a few weeks early
PORTLAND — The Nova Star ferry that runs between Portland and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, failed to reach passenger goals in its inaugural season and is stopping service a few weeks early, officials said Monday. The ferry will depart Portland for the last time on Oct. 14 instead of Nov. 2, as originally planned, allowing Nova […]
Posted inMaine
Winter Harbor man gets 30 months in federal prison for scallop scheme
WINTER HARBOR — A local seafood dealer has been sent to federal prison for more than two years for his role in a scheme to illegally harvest and conceal scallops, according to federal officials. Christopher Byers, 42, pleaded guilty last December to illegally harvesting and helping to conceal nearly 80,000 pounds of scallops caught off […]
Posted inMaine
NH man accused of placing 2-year-old in dryer at Bangor residence remains jailed
BANGOR — A New Hampshire man accused of placing his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son in a clothing dryer at her Bangor home last month and turning on the machine remained behind bars Monday. The boy suffered second-degree burns to his back and arms with a distinct pattern that matched the drum of the dryer, had blisters […]
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Brunswick men free on bond after pleading not guilty to federal tax fraud, conspiracy charges
BRUNSWICK — Two Brunswick men indicted on federal tax fraud and conspiracy charges pleaded not guilty to the charges on Friday and were released pending an Oct. 7 court appearance. F. William Messier, 70, who was indicted on seven federal tax fraud and conspiracy, was released on a $100,000 unsecured bond, according to court documents. […]
Posted inMaine
Bar Harbor grill severely damaged by blaze has been demolished
BAR HARBOR — A restaurant building badly damaged last week by a fire of unknown origin was demolished Monday. Investigators with the state fire marshal’s office have said they were unable to determine what caused the fire, which broke out at the Portside Grill on Cottage Street at around 6 p.m. Sept. 2. The owner […]
Posted inMaine
Bellows hits Collins for lack of support for constitutional amendment to roll back Citizens United
PORTLAND — As the U.S. Senate prepares for a preliminary vote on a constitutional amendment to stem the ever-growing tide of big money in politics, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Shenna Bellows took the opportunity Monday to blast Sen. Susan Collins, her Republican opponent, for refusing to sign on to that effort. The proposal was authored […]
Posted inMaine
Proposal to change traffic patterns in Portland gets mixed reviews
PORTLAND — Portland residents told members of a city panel Monday night that converting two of Portland’s busiest downtown thruways from one-way streets to two-way streets could help restore the “neighborhood feel” along those routes. But others questioned the plan to add the extra directions to State and High streets, which have each been a […]